This call has been made in the U.K. through a joint proposal made by the teaching union NASUWT teaching union and the drug charity Swanswell. According to The Daily Telegraph, a poll by teachers showed that over 10 percent of teachers felt that students who consume energy drinks were disruptive in class due to enhanced hyperactive behaviour.
The drugs charity also noted that many parents and young people are unaware of the caffeine content in energy drinks and that the levels of caffeine can far exceed the content in standard tea or coffee. Swanswell recommends that children should consume no more than 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day (which is the same recommendation for pregnant women.) A single energy drink typically contains 160 mg of caffeine.
Research carried out by Technical University of Denmark warns that when their caffeine intake from other sources such as cola and chocolate is included, every second child and more than one in three adolescents aged 15-17 consume too much caffeine.
Energy drinks are marketed towards young people and are presented as a convenient way of providing a “pick-me-up.” Examples include presenting such drinks as exam aids for students. There is also an orientation with the marketing towards young men and many of the brands have a macho image, with suggestions that there is something tough and cool about taking the drinks and even that they could help to promote virility.
Interviewed by The Daily Telegraph, teacher representative Chris Keates, of the NASUWT, stated: “These drinks are becoming increasingly popular among young people and are often seen as simply like any other soft drink, but many young people and their parents are not aware of the very high levels of stimulants that these drinks contain. They are readily available legal highs.”
A further risk is that energy drinks can trigger sudden hard attacks and erratic heartbeats in young, according to the Say health blog. In particular, those with diagnosed heart disorders there is a risk of the drinks triggering sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).
There are also concerns about some of the ingredients like taurine. Studies have shown taurine linked to illnesses from high blood pressure, strokes, seizures, to heart disease.
